Tooth separator



Feb. 19, 1929.

C. S. IVORY TOOTH SEPARATOR Filed Feb. 21; 1928 INVENTOR: 62/55 75/? 5. /VORY,

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' ticularly the ,tion is to provide a'simple,

Patented Feb. 19, 1929.

cnns'rnns. IVORY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

. 'roo'rn SEPARATOR.

' Application med leb'ruary 21, 1928. serial No. 255,935.

T his invention relates to a tooth separator and has more especial. relationto a device patented Mar-ch19, 1907,'under Patent-No. 847,778. In that particular device the laterally arrangedseparating jaws were more or less limitedas to movement, and while the device was'useful, present dental practice requires a more efficient tooth separator so that the dentists patients may derive all the comfort possible. 1 The device of the present invention is particularly useful plied to a patientsfmouth. -;For example, when it is desired to trim down a diseased tooth between a pair ofsounclteeth it is desirable and necessary that the sound teeth be moved or separated from the'tooth upon which the dentist is working. This could not beaccomplished under the device shown in the patent aforesaid, but by my invention can be readily done. However, the device of the present invention may be employed, if desirable, to dothe same class of workas shown in said patent.

One object ofthe present'invention may be said. to reside i'nthe provision of a tooth separator having laterally arranged se arating jaws, two'of which are adjusta le to move long tudinallyof the device independently of each'other to engage teeth ofd ffer- 'ent sizes or, abnormalior ir-regulararrange ment in the dental arch; having in View parseparating of two sound teeth from a diseased tooth as in the case of making a jacket crown.

A further object is to provide a pair of adjustable hook-like jaws capable of appreciable movement in opposite directions, particularly adapted for use in making a jacket crown in the dental arch of a persons mouth, whereby the two adjacent sound teeth may be separated from the diseased tooth being worked upon by the dentist.

A further object is to provide a device of the character stated calculated to attain the foregoing objects and in an arrangement whereby the tooth having the crown applied thereto not only stands alone or separated, but all danger of, splitting of the crown is overcome.

A still further object of the present invencompact, and inexpensive tooth separator which when placed in a patients mouth operates efficiently for the purposes desired without undue annoyance and pain to the patient.

when a crown is being apaddition to provide Other and further objects not at this time appearing will hereinafter appear.

The invention consists of the novel construction hereinafter described and finally claimed. i i

The nature, characteristic features and scope of the invention will be more fully understood from the following description taken, in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part hereof, and in which: Fig. 1, is a top or plan view of the'tooth separator embodying theinvention, illustrating the jaws thereof in closed position. Fig. 2, is a top or plan view of the tooth separator embodying the invention andshowing the jaws thereof in wider or separated position. V

Fig. 3, is a view in section taken upon the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig.4, is a view insection taken upon the line 1-4 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 5, a view in section taken upon the line 5-5 of Fig. 1;

For the purposes of illustrating my invention, I have shown in the accompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred by me, since the same has been found in practice to give satisfactory and reliable results, although it is to bev understoodthat the various instrumentalities of tion is not limitedto the precise arrangement and organization of the instrumentalities as herein shown and described.

Referring to the drawings, in which simi-' lar numerals of reference indicate correspondin parts, frame, t e-members of which are designated 1 and 2, having especial relation to Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive. connected at their rear ends by a link 3, which link has'pivotal relation as at 5 with said members 1 and 2. These members 1 and 2 terminate in'forwardly extending hook-like tooth separating members 6 and 7. Intermediate of the hook-like tooth engaging members 6 and 7 and the link 3 is a toggle joint arrangement comprising links 8 and 9, which links have pivotal relation as at 10 with the members 1 and 2, said links 8 and 9 having pivotal relation as at ll with the stem of a screw 12 which has screw threaded relation there is disclosed a divided arranged and organized and that my inven- These members 1 and 2 are 6 and 7 are in abutting relation, and the members 1 and 2 are arranged in parallelism with each other and with the longitudinal aXis of the screw 12. In this position the hook-like members 6 and 7 may be caused to engage between a pair of adjacent teeth a and Z), which is sometimes desirable. On the other hand, when the toggle joint arrangement is in extended position the booklike members are widely separated so that they can span a tooth c and separate from said tooth 0 adjacent teeth (Z and c. In this particular case the tooth 0 would be a diseased tooth, and a jacket crown probably would be desired to be positioned thereon. In this event the teeth (Z and 6 would want to be separated and spaced from the diseased tooth c, not only to facilitate the dentists Work and save the patient unnecessary pain, but to permit the diseased tooth to stand alone without danger of splitting a porcelain jacket crown being Fitted thereon, as is well understood in the art of dentistry.

Carried by the members 1 and 2, and adapted to move in unison with said members and said hook-like members, are tooth engaging spurs 13 and 1 1. These tooth engaging spurs in addition to lateral movement with the members 1 and 2 may be moved longitudinally of the device independently of one another, since the same are fixed to screws 15 and 16 operable by means of thumb nuts 17. It is thus apparent that the tooth engaging spurs may be advanced toward or away from the tooth engaging, hook-like members in any desirable ratio with respect to one another and entirely independently of one another. Thus, the tooth engaging spurs, as shown in Fig. 1, may abut against one another so that the meeting portions are in alignment with the meeting portions of the hook-like members 6 and 7. It is also apparent, as shown in Fig. 2, that when the members 1 and 2 are separated the pointed ends of the spurs 13 and 14 are still in alignment with the pointed ends of the hook-like members 6 and 7, even though the members 1 and 2 have been movedapart.

I am aware that the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without, departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and I therefore desire the present embodiment to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being had to the appended claims rather" than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what Iclaim as new, and desire to secure by Let ters Patent, is:

1. A tooth separator comprising a frame formed of laterally movable members con nected at their inner ends by a link connection and each terminating at their forward ends in a tooth engaging, hook-like member, a toggle joint arranged intermediate of said hook-like members and said link connection, and a screw element co-operatively engaging said link connection and pivoted with respect to said toggle joint for moving said frame members toward or away from one another.

2. A tooth separator comprising a frame formed of laterally movable members connected at their inner ends by a linkconneetion pivoted thereto and each terminating at their forward ends in a tooth engaging, hook-like member, a toggle joint arranged intermediate of said hook-like members and said link connection and pivoted to the upper portions of said frame members, and a screw element co-operatively engaging said link connection and pivoted with respect to said toggle joint for moving said frame members toward or away from one another.

CHESTER S. IVORY. 

